NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Greg Nero registered team highs with 18 points and seven rebounds as the men's basketball team dropped a 64-60 decision to Iona College on the road. The Stags lost their third straight game to fall to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.

The Stags trailed for nearly the entire game, posting their only lead just a minute into the game at 3-2. After Iona opened the contest with a basket, Fairfield used an unconventional three-point play to take the lead.

Herbie Allen stole the ball and was breaking for a layup when an Iona player fouled him at midcourt. An intentional foul was the call which put Allen at the line for two shots. The senior made the second of the two shots, and Fairfield was given the ball back as part of the intentional foul. Nero's lay up pushed the Stags in front by a point, but the lead was short lived as the Gaels regained the lead on its next possession.

The home team would lead by as many as 14 points in the second half, enjoying a 28-14 advantage with two minutes remaining in the first half. Fairfield scored eight straight points to pull within six points at 28-22 before Iona ended the half with Devon Clarke's dunk to make the halftime score 30-22.

Allen's three-point shot to start the second half allowed Fairfield to pull within five points at 30-25, but Iona answered with a three pointer from Milan Prodanovic. The Stags came as close as three points a few minutes later after Jonathan Han's long-range jumper made it 33-30, before Iona scored eight of the next 12 points to regain a seven-point lead.

After trailing by 13 points with 4:43 on the clock, the Stags made a valiant effort to win the game by making a late run that kept the Stags close at 61-56. Mike Evanovich's tip in decreased the deficit to three points at 61-58, which Iona's Trinity Fields answered with a free throw in two attempts, making the score 62-58.

Nero's lay up turned the game into a one possession game at 62-60, but Scott Machado made two free throws with seven seconds remaining to end all come back hopes.

Han finished the game with 13 points, bringing him with seven points of the 1,000-point plateau, and added two assists, which raised his career total to 498 assists. Machado led all Iona scorers with 14 points.

The Stags return to action on Tuesday, January 6 when they travel to West Point for a 7 pm game against the Army Black Knights.